Question

1. Why is it important for skilled nursing facilities to develop an ethical culture that promotes compliance?

2. How could an ethics committee that meets regularly address this issue, and what types of staff would you have as members of this committee?

Answer 1

Compliance programs within an organization promote efforts to reduce and prevent fraud within the organization. Nursing facilities following a culture of compliance and responsibility provide effective and quality care to the patients. It is important for skilled nursing facilities to facilitate an ethical culture of compliance because it helps them to avoid excessive penalties and fines on the patients and the employees. Moreover, it help the hospital authorities to enhance staff communication and foster an ethical culture of accountability and responsibility.

An ethical committee that meet regularly address the issue of compliance through proper communication, policy implementation and evaluation. Main function of the ethics committee is to set rules and regulations in context to the hospital behavior and code of conduct. A regular meeting enhance the accountability of the committee for the behavior of the hospital authorities.

The ethics committee within a hospital consists of a heterogeneous group of 7 members. These 7 members are well experienced, qualified and educated enough to properly evaluate and implement the code of conduct that promote the ethical aspects within the hospital.